Weighted rodent bait stations and related methods

ABSTRACT

Rodent bait station assemblies and methods for assembly and bundling.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/808,302, filed Nov. 9, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/212,754 filed Jul. 18, 2016, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/663,655 filed Mar.20, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,392,784; which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/011,637 filed Aug. 27, 2013, now U.S.Pat. No. 8,997,396; which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/533,747 filed Jun. 26, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,516,740;which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/013,665filed Jan. 25, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,209,900; which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/186,436 filed Aug.5, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,874,098; all of which are incorporatedherein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

The present methods, devices, and systems relate generally to the fieldof rodent bait stations.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments of the present rodent bait station assemblies have abait station fixed to an anchoring base by one or more fastening membersthat are respectively coupled to one or more frusto-conically shapedattachment pieces that are each in contact with the anchoring base. Insome embodiments, the attachment pieces may be frusto-conically shapedfastening plugs that are respectively in contact with the one or morefastening members.

In some embodiments of the present rodent bait station assemblies, theanchoring base may comprise ceramic or concrete. Some embodimentsinclude bait stations that are configured with a lid. Some of theseembodiments include a removable key, and are configured such that thelid can be unlocked from the bait station using the key.

Some embodiments of the present rodent bait station assemblies have abase portion and a lid that is integrally attached to the base portion.Some of these embodiments include a removable key, and are configuredsuch that the lid can be unlocked from the bait station using the key.

Some embodiments of the present rodent bait station assemblies containbait located within the bait station. Some of these embodiments alsoinclude bait-holding rods that couple the bait to the bait station.

In some embodiments of the present rodent bait station assemblies, theattachment pieces contain plastic. In some embodiments, the attachmentpieces are part of an attachment tray. In some of these embodiments, thefastening members are coupled to the attachment pieces usingfrusto-conically shaped fastening plugs that are in contact with thefastening members and with the attachment pieces.

Some embodiments of the present rodent bait station assemblies havefastening members that are self-tapping screws.

Some embodiments of the present rodent bait station assemblies have abait station, an anchoring base, an attachment piece, and a fasteningmember that is in contact with the bait station and is coupled to theattachment piece. In these embodiments, the anchoring base may includean anchoring base top surface having a portion that is in contact withthe bait station, and an anchoring base attachment surface that are isnot parallel to the anchoring base top surface. In these embodiments,the attachment piece may be in contact with the anchoring baseattachment surfaces.

In these embodiments, the anchoring base may fixed to the bait stationby a compressive force that is normal to the anchoring base top surface.The compressive force may be applied to the anchoring base by theattachment piece.

In these embodiments, the attachment piece may not be integral to theanchoring base prior to coupling the fastening member to the attachmentpiece. In other words, prior to coupling fastening member to theattachment piece, the attachment piece may be separable from theanchoring base.

Some embodiments of the present rodent bait station assemblies includefeatures that prevent rotation of the attachment piece during couplingto the fastening member. Such anti-rotational features may include, forexample, a configuration having a slightly eccentric radialcross-section (e.g., an oblong-shaped cross-section) of a generallyfrusto-conical attachment surface of the anchoring base. When such aconfiguration is coupled to a frusto-conical fastening plug serving asthe attachment piece, the fastening plug may deform to comply with theeccentric cross-section of the attachment surface, thereby limiting therotation of fastening plug.

In some embodiments of the present rodent bait station assemblies, theanchoring base includes an anchoring base bottom surface that issubstantially parallel and opposite the anchoring base top surface. Inthese embodiments, the anchoring base bottom surface may have indentedfeatures, such as, for example, channels or grid-like impressions. Theterm “substantially parallel” in this respect means that the magnitudeof the angle between the surface normals is about ten degrees or less.

In some embodiments of the present rodent bait station assemblies,projecting the outer perimeter of the anchoring base onto the plane ofthe anchoring base attachment surface circumscribes an area that isabout 110% or less than the area circumscribed by projecting the outerperimeter of the bait station onto the plane of the anchoring baseattachment surface.

In some embodiments of the present rodent bait station assemblies, theshape resulting from projecting the outer perimeter of the anchoringbase onto the plane of the anchoring base attachment surface issubstantially the same as the shape resulting from projecting the outerperimeter of the bait station onto the plane of the anchoring baseattachment surface. The term “substantially the same” in this respectmeans that the two shapes can be aligned such that the offset betweenthe two shapes (e.g., for any given point on either shape, the shortestdistance to a point on the other shape) does not deviate by more then10% from the median offset between the two shapes.

Embodiments of the present rodent bait station packaged bundle contain apackaging container and a bait station assembly having a bait stationfixed to an anchoring base. In these embodiments, the bait stationassembly may be within the packaging container.

Some embodiments of the present rodent bait station packaged bundleinclude bait located within the bait station. In some of theseembodiments, the bait is coupled to the bait station using bait-holdingrods.

In some embodiments of the present rodent bait station packaged bundle,the packaging container is paper. Some embodiments of the packagingcontainer are paperboard, corrugated fiberboard, or plastic.

Embodiments of the present shipping bundles include a transport pallet,rodent bait station assemblies, and a plastic film wrapped around aportion of the plurality of rodent bait station assemblies to secure therodent bait station assemblies to the transport pallet and restrictmovement of rodent bait station assemblies relative to each other.

Some embodiments of the present shipping bundles include bait locatedwithin the bait station. In some of these embodiments, bait-holding rodscouple the bait to the bait station.

Some embodiments of the present shipping bundles include a strapsecuring the rodent bait station assemblies to the transport pallet.

Embodiments of the present methods for assembling a rodent bait stationassembly include the steps of positioning a base attachment piece in afixture, positioning an anchoring base over the base attachment piece sothat the base attachment piece contacts an anchoring base attachmentsurface of the anchoring base, positioning a bait station on theanchoring base such that an attachment position of the bait stationaligns with the attachment piece, and fixing the anchoring base to thebait station by positioning a fastening member at the attachmentposition and coupling the fastening member to the base attachment piece.

Embodiments of the present methods for bundling a plurality of rodentbait station assemblies includes the steps of placing a plurality ofrodent bait station assemblies on a transport pallet, and wrapping aplastic film around a portion of the plurality of rodent bait stationassemblies to secure the rodent bait station assemblies to the transportpallet and restrict movement of rodent bait station assemblies relativeto each other. In these embodiments each rodent bait station assemblymay include a bait station fixed to an anchoring base.

Any embodiment of any of the present methods, devices, and systems mayconsist of or consist essentially of—rather thancomprise/include/contain/have—the described functions, steps and/orfeatures. Thus, in any of the claims, the term “consisting of” or“consisting essentially of” may be substituted for any of the open-endedlinking verbs recited above, in order to change the scope of a givenclaim from what it would otherwise be using the open-ended linking verb.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings illustrate by way of example and not limitation.Identical reference numerals do not necessarily indicate an identicalstructure, system, or display. Rather, the same reference numeral may beused to indicate a similar feature or a feature with similarfunctionality. Every feature of each embodiment is not always labeled inevery figure in which that embodiment appears, in order to keep thefigures clear. FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 5A, 5B, 6, and 7 are drawn toscale, meaning the sizes of the depicted elements are accurate relativeto each other.

FIGS. 1A and 1B depict perspective views of embodiments of the presentrodent bait station assemblies. FIG. 1B depicts an embodiment having anattachment tray.

FIGS. 2A and 2B depict exploded perspective views of embodiments of thepresent rodent bait station assemblies. FIG. 2B depicts an embodimenthaving an attachment tray.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1A, takenalong line 3-3.

FIG. 4A is a detailed cross-sectional view of attachment piece 300,anchoring base attachment surface 220, and fastening member 400 of theembodiment of FIG. 1A. The detailed area shown in FIG. 4A is denoted as4 in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 4B-4G are detailed cross-sectional views of alternate embodimentsto the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the interior of embodiments of the presentbait stations. Bait and bait-holding rods are depicted.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present rodentbait station assemblies having an attachment tray.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the present rodent baitstation assemblies that does not have an attachment tray.

FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment of a present rodent bait station packagedbundle, having an embodiment of a rodent bait station assembly (depictedgenerically) packaged within a packaging container.

FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment of a present shipping bundle, having aplurality of present rodent bait station packaged bundles on a transportpallet.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of a method for assemblinga rodent bait station assembly.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of a method for bundling aplurality of rodent bait station assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and“comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and“having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and“including”) and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains”and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. Thus, a methodcomprising certain steps is a method that includes at least the recitedsteps, but is not limited to only possessing the recited steps.Likewise, a device or system comprising certain elements includes atleast the recited elements, but is not limited to only possessing therecited elements. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more thanone, unless this disclosure expressly requires otherwise. The term“another” is defined as at least a second or more.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides embodiments that arerodent bait station assemblies. In another aspect, the presentdisclosure provides embodiments that are rodent bait station packagedbundles that include embodiments of the rodent bait station assemblies.Another aspect of the present disclosure provides shipping bundles thatinclude a plurality of embodiments of the rodent bait stationassemblies. Yet another aspect of the present disclosure providesmethods for assembling rodent bait station assemblies.

Embodiments of the present rodent bait station assemblies are depictedin FIGS. 1A-7. Rodent bait station assembly 10 includes bait station 100fixed to anchoring base 200 by attachment piece 300 and fastening member400. Anchoring base 200 provides rodent bait station assembly 10 withadditional stability compared to an implementation having bait station100 alone. Bait station 100 is typically formed from plastic (through,for example, injection molding techniques), but may alternately befabricated from other materials or combinations of materials. Anchoringbase 200 may be very heavy relative to bait station 100, and may befabricated from materials such as concrete. The concrete may be formedusing a vertical mixer that drops a shot of concrete into a form that isthen shaken to achieve the desired shape, after which multiple bases canbe cured together using any suitable technique. An example of suitableconcrete for making bases 200 can be created using a 5 sack mix thatyields about 4000 psi (pounds per square inch) concrete; the amount ofwater in the mix can be minimized and any resulting slump also kept to aminimum. A die or dies can be added to the concrete to achieve a desiredcolor for the base. Soap in the form of an admixture may also be added,such as those that are available from Grace Construction Products. Basesformed from such concrete may be cured by enclosing them, such as with atarp (e.g., a 3 millimeter thick plastic sheet), and allowing the curetemperature in or around the bases to reach about 105 to about 135degrees F. (Fahrenheit).

Other embodiments of anchoring base 200 may be fabricated from ceramic,rubber, plastic, wood, stone, metal, or another suitable material orcombination of materials. The additional weight provided by anchoringbase 200 reduces the likelihood that rodent bait station assembly 10will be unintentionally moved or tipped, compared to a bait stationalone.

Bait station 100 may include lid 110 and base 120. The lid and base maybe integral with each other, and include a “living” hinge, or they maybe separate pieces that can be coupled together. Some embodimentsinclude key 160, and are configured to lock lid 110 to base 120 in aclosed position to restrict access to bait 140 within bait station 100.Some embodiments are configured such that lid 110 can be unlocked frombait station 100 using the key.

Referring to FIGS. 1A-1B and 2A-2B, some embodiments of anchoring base200 and bait station 100 may have substantially the same shape. In thisrespect, the shape resulting from projecting the outer perimeter ofanchoring base 200 onto the plane of anchoring base top surface 210 maybe substantially the same as the shape resulting from projecting theouter perimeter of the bait station 200 onto the same plane.

In some embodiments, projecting the outer perimeter of anchoring base200 onto the plane of anchoring base top surface 210 circumscribes anarea that is about 150% or less of the area circumscribed by projectingthe outer perimeter of bait station 200 onto the same plane. Forexample, the projection of the perimeter of anchoring base 200 onto theplane of anchoring base top surface 210 may circumscribe an area that isequal or less than 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109,110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, or 150percent of the area circumscribed by the projection of the perimeter ofbait station 100 onto the plane of anchoring base top surface 210.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4A, fastening member 400 and attachment piece300 are respectively coupled (one-to-one coupled) to fix bait station100 (at bait station attachment location 130) to portion 211 ofanchoring base top surface 210 of anchoring base 200. In the embodimentdepicted, fastening member 400 is a self-tapping screw, such as a lagscrew. In this embodiment, attachment piece 300 is a fastening plug(labeled as fastening plug 410 in embodiments where a tray is part ofthe assembly, such as in FIG. 6), which is fabricated from plastic andhas a through hole having a slightly smaller diameter than the threadmajor diameter of self-tapping screw fastening member 400. During thecoupling of fastening member 400 and attachment piece 300, theself-tapping threads of fastening member 400 cut mating threads intoattachment piece 300 as fastening member 400 advances along the innerbore of the through hole of attachment piece 300.

One of ordinary skill in the art, with the benefit of this disclosure,will appreciate that, in other embodiments of the present assemblies,attachment piece 300 may be coupled to fastening member 400 in otherways. For example, fastening member 400 may be a machine screw, andattachment piece 300 may be fabricated with mating threads. Also, insome embodiments, attachment piece 300 may be fabricated from materialother than plastic (e.g., metal). Other embodiments of the presentassemblies may use attachment piece 300 and fastening member 400 thatmate by way of a quarter-turn fastening mechanism. Still otherembodiments may use attachment piece 300 that has an externally threadedportion that extends through anchoring base 200, and bait station 100,and couples to fastening member 400 that has internal threads, such as anut.

FIGS. 4B-4G depict examples of other embodiments of the presentassemblies in which bait station 100 is coupled to anchoring base 200 inother ways from what is shown in FIG. 4A. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4B, fastening member 400 is a bolt (e.g., a bolt or a screw) andattachment piece 300 is a mating nut.

Attachment piece 300 is not part of the embodiments shown in FIGS.4C-4E. FIG. 4C depicts fastening member 400 that is a rivet, such as asolid rivet or a blind rivet. The rivet may be plastic, and may haveradially protruding ridges or threads (not shown) that increase thefriction force between the rivet and the wall of the passageway in base200. In FIG. 4D, fastening member 400 may be one or more cable ties(e.g., half-inch cable ties), each of which is threaded through matchingpairs of holes in bait station 100 and anchoring base 200. The pairs ofholes may be positioned in any suitable location in the station and thebase. For example, in some embodiments, the pairs of holes that comprisea matching pair of holes may be located very near each other, as isdepicted in FIG. 4C. In other embodiments, a longer cable tie may beused and the pairs of holes that comprise a matching pair of holes maybe farther apart, such as the hole locations depicted in FIGS. 2A, 2B,and 7.

FIG. 4E depicts an embodiment in which bait station 100 may be coupledto anchoring base 200 using fastening member 400 that is an adhesive,two-sided tape, or that includes hook-and-loop fasteners.

The embodiments depicted in FIGS. 4B-4D include a counterbore inanchoring base bottom surface 230 to provide clearance for attachmentpiece 300 and/or fastening member 400. In some embodiments, thecounterbore may be configured to correspond to the shape of attachmentpiece 300 and/or fastening member 400 (e.g., a hexogonal counterbore tocorrespond to attachment piece 300 that is a hexagonal nut).

FIG. 4F depicts an embodiment that does not have a counterbore. Instead,bottom surface 230 includes surface features such as, for example,ridges or ribs, that are configured such that when rodent bait stationassembly 10 is deployed (e.g., placed in a location and orientation foruse as a rodent bait station), bottom surface 230 contacts thedeployment surface (e.g., the ground or the floor of a building), andattachment piece 300 and fastening member 400 do not contact thedeployment surface.

In other embodiments, such as the one shown in FIG. 4G, attachment piece300 and/or fastening member 400 may contact the deployment surface. Insome of these embodiments, attachment piece 300 and/or fastening member400 may be configured with features for contacting the ground. Forexample, fastening member 400 may be a threaded bolt and attachmentpiece 300 may be a rubber or plastic “foot” that contains matingthreads.

In some embodiments, both attachment piece 300 and fastening member 400may be configured to be located exterior to the volume defined by baitstation 100. This may be accomplished by the use of, for example, amounting flange on bait station 100, or brackets that couple to a sideof bait station 100 and to anchoring base 200.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the coupling of attachment piece 300 and fasteningmember 400 may result in compressive force 90 being applied byattachment piece 300 to anchoring base 200, thereby fixing anchoringbase 200 to bait station 100. Attachment piece 300 may contact anchoringbase 200 at anchoring base attachment surface 220. In the depictedembodiment, anchoring base attachment surface 220 and attachment piece300 are frusto-conical in shape (shaped like a frustum, or cone, withthe top portion removed). This may facilitate simplified alignmentduring assembly, and allow attachment piece 300 to be drawn intoanchoring base attachment surface 220 of anchoring base 200 as fasteningmember 400 is coupled to attachment piece 300.

Some embodiments include features that prevent rotation of attachmentpiece 300 during coupling to fastening member 400. Such anti-rotationalfeatures may include, for example, a configuration having a slightlyeccentric radial cross-section (e.g., an oblong-shaped cross-section) ofa generally frusto-conical attachment surface 220 of anchoring base 200.When such a configuration is coupled to a frusto-conical fastening plugserving as attachment piece 300, the fastening plug may deform to complywith the eccentric cross-section of attachment surface 220, therebylimiting the rotation of the fastening plug. FIG. 7 is a bottom viewdepicting a fastening plug positioned within an oblong attachmentsurface 220. Other embodiment may include attachment piece 300 and/oranchoring base attachment surface 220 that are not frusto-conical inshape.

Referring to FIGS. 1B, 2B, 5B, and 6, some embodiments of the presentrodent bait station assemblies include attachment tray 350, which mayserve to partially enclose anchoring base 200. Partially enclosinganchoring base 200 may serve to protect, and to contain fragments of,embodiments of anchoring base 200 that are prone to breaking orfragmenting (e.g., embodiments comprising concrete). Enclosure ofanchoring base 200 may also provide improved aesthetics.

In some embodiments, attachment piece 300 is part of attachment tray350. In some of these embodiments, the coupling of fastening member 400to attachment piece 300 (and therefore to attachment tray 350) does notinvolve direct contact between fastening member 400 and attachment piece300, but instead is accomplished using a fastening plug 410 that is incontact with both fastening member 400 and attachment piece 300.

Referring to FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6, bait 140 may be held in place withinbait station 100 by bait-holding rods 150, which may be constrainedwithin bait station 100 by physical means such as, for example, slotsconfigured to constrain holding rods 150. One of ordinary skill in theart will appreciate that other methods of constraining bait 140 may beused in other embodiments of the present disclosure.

Indented feature 231 located on anchoring base bottom surface 230 ofsome embodiments of anchoring base 200 is depicted in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.Indented feature 231 may serve to reduce the amount of material and theweight of anchoring base 200. In embodiments that do not includeattachment tray 350, indented feature 231 may serve the additionalpurpose of increasing resistance to sliding for a deployed rodent baitstation assembly 10. The embodiment depicted in FIGS. 6-7 have indentedfeature 231 that is a channel. Those of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize that many other geometries are possible (e.g., a waffle-likegrid).

An embodiment of the present rodent bait station packaged bundles isdepicted in FIG. 8. In this embodiment rodent bait station packagedbundle 20 includes rodent bait station assembly 10 contained withinpackaging container 500. Packaging container 500 may be fabricated usingpaper, such as paperboard (e.g., non-corrugated boxes), corrugatedfiberboard (e.g., corrugated cardboard boxes), plastic (e.g., plasticpackaging), or any other suitable packaging material. Embodiments ofpackaging container 500 may include a combination of materials (e.g.,blister packs that include formed plastic as well as paperboard). Someembodiments of rodent bait station packaged bundle 20 may includepackaging container 500 that is a shrink-wrap plastic film. Packingmaterial 510 may also be included within packaging container 500 toprotect rodent bait station assembly 10 from possible damage incurredduring shipping. Examples of packing material 510 include bubble wrapand polystyrene foam.

An embodiment of the present shipping bundle 30 is depicted in FIG. 9.In this embodiment, several rodent bait station assemblies 10 (depictedgenerically) are positioned on transport pallet 700. Multiple rows ofrodent bait station assembly 10 may be positioned on transport pallet700, and layer stacking material 710 may be used as a separator betweenthe individual rows of rodent bait station assemblies 10. Transportpallet 700 may be a wooden pallet, a plastic pallet, or any othersuitable pallet or skid that can be used to aid in shipping largenumbers of products such as rodent bait station assemblies 10. Theindividual rodent bait station assemblies 10 that are part of shippingbundle 30 may or may not be individually packaged within rodent baitstation packaged bundles 20. In some embodiments of shipping bundle 30,plastic film 600 and/or strap 800 may be used to tie down the individualrodent bait station assemblies 10 to transport pallet 700, so as torestrict the movement of individual rodent bait station assemblies 10relative to each other. Furthermore, bundle 30 may include a film thatis wrapped around multiple groups of assemblies that have been wrappedtogether with a similar film, thus creating a large bundle comprisingmultiple smaller bundles that each comprise multiple assemblies 10. Forexample, in some embodiments, bundle 30 comprises 240 total assemblies10 wrapped with a film and grouped as follows: four stacked (one on topof the other) smaller bundles that each includes a pallet (e.g., 40inches by 48 inches) on which four stacked layers of 15 assemblies 10each have been positioned and wrapped with a film, where two of thesmaller bundles that are stacked and that each comprises 60 assemblieshave also been wrapped with a film to form an intermediate bundle, andthe two intermediate bundles are stacked on each other to form theembodiment of bundle 30 that comprises the 240 total assemblies 10.

FIG. 10 presents a flow chart of the steps involved in an embodiment ofthe present methods for assembling a rodent bait station assembly. Thisembodiment includes positioning a base attachment piece (e.g.,attachment piece 300) in a fixture (step 901), positioning an anchoringbase (e.g., anchoring base 200) over the base attachment piece such thatthe base attachment piece contacts an anchoring base attachment surface(e.g., anchoring base attachment surface 220) of the anchoring base(step 902), positioning a bait station (e.g., bait station 100) on theanchoring base such that an attachment position (e.g., bait stationattachment location 110) of the bait station aligns with the attachmentpiece (step 903), and fixing the anchoring base to the bait station bypositioning a fastening member (e.g., fastening member 400) at theattachment position and coupling the fastening member to the baseattachment piece (step 904). These steps may be performed manually by anoperator, by an operator with the aid of assembly automation equipment,and/or by a fully automated assembly system. One of ordinary skill inthe art will appreciate that the “fixture” of step 901 may be any devicethat is used for holding parts in one or more positions during anassembly process using those parts.

FIG. 11 presents a flow chart of the steps involved in an embodiment ofthe present method for bundling a plurality of rodent bait stationassemblies for shipment. This embodiment includes placing a plurality ofrodent bait station assemblies (e.g., rodent bait station assembly 10)on a transport pallet (e.g., transport pallet 700) (step 1101) andwrapping a plastic film (e.g., plastic film 600) around a portion of theplurality of rodent bait station assemblies to secure the rodent baitstation assemblies to the transport pallet and restrict movement ofrodent bait station assemblies relative to each other (step 1102). Suchwrapping may be accomplished using, for example, a conventional stretchwrap machine.

Descriptions of well known assembly techniques, components, andequipment have been omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure thepresent methods, apparatuses, an systems in unnecessary detail. Thedescriptions of the present methods and apparatuses are exemplary andnon-limiting. Certain substitutions, modifications, additions and/orrearrangements falling within the scope of the claims, but notexplicitly listed in this disclosure, may become apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art based on this disclosure. For example, someembodiments may use attachment piece 300 that has an externally threadedportion that extends through anchoring base 200, and bait station 100,and couples to fastening member 400 that has internal threads, such as anut. Some embodiments may include attachment piece 300 and/or anchoringbase attachment surface 220 that are not frusto-conical in shape.

The appended claims are not to be interpreted as includingmeans-plus-function limitations, unless such a limitation is explicitlyrecited in a given claim using the phrase(s) “means for” and/or “stepfor,” respectively.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A rodent bait station packaged bundlecomprising: a pallet; multiple rodent bait station assemblies positionedon the pallet, where the multiple rodent bait station assemblies arestacked such that the top of one of the multiple rodent bait stationassemblies supports the bottom of another of the multiple rodent baitstation assemblies, each of the multiple rodent bait station assembliescomprising: a base comprising plastic; a lid comprising plastic andincluding an inner surface and internal wall portions extending awayfrom the inner surface, the lid being lockable in a closed positionrelative to the base; an anchoring base comprising concrete that ispre-molded to correspond to at least one feature of the bait stationassembly, the anchoring base including a bottom surface with one or moreindentions in the bottom surface; a tray partially enclosing theanchoring base; and multiple bait-holding rods enclosed by the lid andthe base when the lid and the base are locked together; a packagingcontainer comprising a film wrapped around a portion of the multiplerodent bait station assemblies.
 2. The rodent bait station packagedbundle of claim 1, where, for each of the multiple rodent bait stationassemblies, the base is integrally hinged to the lid.
 3. The rodent baitstation packaged bundle of claim 1, further comprising a key coupled toone of the multiple rodent bait station assemblies.
 4. The rodent baitstation packaged bundle of claim 1, where in at least one of the rodentbait station assemblies, the bait-holding rods are vertically oriented.5. A rodent bait station packaged bundle comprising: a pallet; multiplerodent bait station assemblies positioned on the pallet, where themultiple rodent bait station assemblies are stacked such that the top ofone of the multiple rodent bait station assemblies is in direct contactwith the bottom of another of the multiple rodent bait stationassemblies, each of the multiple rodent bait station assembliescomprising: a base comprising plastic; a lid comprising plastic andbeing lockable in a closed position relative to the base; a tray; ananchoring base comprising concrete that is pre-molded to correspond toat least one feature of the bait station assembly, the anchoring basedisposed between the tray and the base, the anchoring base including abottom surface with one or more indentions in the bottom surface;multiple bait-holding rods enclosed by the lid and the base when the lidand the base are locked together; a packaging container comprising afilm wrapped around a portion of the multiple rodent bait stationassemblies.
 6. The rodent bait station packaged bundle of claim 5,where, for each of the multiple rodent bait station assemblies, the baseis integrally hinged to the lid.
 7. The rodent bait station packagedbundle of claim 5, further comprising a key coupled to one of themultiple rodent bait station assemblies.
 8. The rodent bait stationpackaged bundle of claim 5, where in at least one of the rodent baitstation assemblies, the bait-holding rods are vertically oriented.
 9. Arodent bait station packaged bundle comprising: a pallet; multiplerodent bait station assemblies positioned on the pallet, where themultiple rodent bait station assemblies are stacked such that the top ofone of the multiple rodent bait station assemblies is in direct contactwith the bottom of another of the multiple rodent bait stationassemblies, each of the multiple rodent bait station assembliescomprising: a base comprising plastic; a lid comprising plastic andincluding an inner surface and internal wall portions extending awayfrom the inner surface, the lid being lockable in a closed positionrelative to the base; a tray; and an anchoring base comprising concretethat is pre-molded to correspond to at least one feature of the baitstation assembly, the anchoring base disposed between the tray and thebase, the anchoring base including a bottom surface with one or moreindentions in the bottom surface; and a packaging container comprising afilm wrapped around a portion of the multiple rodent bait stationassemblies.
 10. The rodent bait station packaged bundle of claim 9,where, for each of the multiple rodent bait station assemblies, the baseis integrally hinged to the lid.
 11. The rodent bait station packagedbundle of claim 9, further comprising a key coupled to one of themultiple rodent bait station assemblies.
 12. A rodent bait stationpackaged bundle comprising: a pallet; multiple rodent bait stationassemblies positioned on the pallet, where the multiple rodent baitstation assemblies are positioned on the pallet such that the palletsupports the multiple rodent bait station assemblies, each of themultiple rodent bait station assemblies comprising: a base comprisingplastic; a lid comprising plastic and including an inner surface andinternal wall portions extending away from the inner surface, the lidbeing lockable in a closed position relative to the base; a tray; and ananchoring base comprising concrete that is pre-molded to correspond toat least one feature of the bait station assembly, the anchoring basedisposed between the tray and the base, the anchoring base including abottom surface with one or more indentions in the bottom surface;multiple bait-holding rods enclosed by the lid and the base when the lidand the base are locked together; a packaging container comprising afilm wrapped around a portion of the multiple rodent bait stationassemblies.
 13. The rodent bait station packaged bundle of claim 12,where, for each of the multiple rodent bait station assemblies, the baseis integrally hinged to the lid.
 14. The rodent bait station packagedbundle of claim 12, further comprising a key coupled to one of themultiple rodent bait station assemblies.
 15. The rodent bait stationpackaged bundle of claim 12, where in at least one of the rodent baitstation assemblies, the bait-holding rods are vertically oriented.
 16. Arodent bait station packaged bundle comprising: a pallet; multiplerodent bait station assemblies positioned on the pallet, where themultiple rodent bait station assemblies are stacked such that the top ofone of the multiple rodent bait station assemblies supports the bottomof another of the multiple rodent bait station assemblies, each of themultiple rodent bait station assemblies comprising: a base comprisingplastic; a lid comprising plastic and being lockable in a closedposition relative to the base; a tray; and an anchoring base comprisingconcrete that is pre-molded to correspond to at least one feature of thebait station assembly, the anchoring base disposed between the tray andthe base, the anchoring base including a bottom surface with one or moreindentions in the bottom surface; a packaging container comprising afilm wrapped around a portion of the multiple rodent bait stationassemblies.
 17. The rodent bait station packaged bundle of claim 16,where, for each of the multiple rodent bait station assemblies, the baseis integrally hinged to the lid.
 18. The rodent bait station packagedbundle of claim 16, further comprising a key coupled to one of themultiple rodent bait station assemblies.
 19. A rodent bait stationpackaged bundle comprising: a pallet; multiple rodent bait stationassemblies positioned on the pallet, where the multiple rodent baitstation assemblies are disposed on the pallet such that the palletsupports the multiple rodent bait station assemblies, each of themultiple rodent bait station assemblies comprising: a base comprisingplastic; a lid comprising plastic and being lockable in a closedposition relative to the base; a tray; and an anchoring base comprisingconcrete that is pre-molded to correspond to at least one feature of thebait station assembly, the anchoring base disposed between the tray andthe base, the anchoring base including a bottom surface with one or moreindentions in the bottom surface; multiple bait-holding rods enclosed bythe lid and the base when the lid and the base are locked together; apackaging container comprising a film wrapped around a portion of themultiple rodent bait station assemblies.
 20. The rodent bait stationpackaged bundle of claim 19, where, for each of the multiple rodent baitstation assemblies, the base is integrally hinged to the lid.
 21. Therodent bait station packaged bundle of claim 19, further comprising akey coupled to one of the multiple rodent bait station assemblies. 22.The rodent bait station packaged bundle of claim 19, where in at leastone of the rodent bait station assemblies, the bait-holding rods arevertically oriented.